Second Battle of Kizugawaguchi

The Second Battle of Kizugawaguchi occurred in 1578 during the Sengoku period. The Mori fleet, commanded by Motonari Mori, was decisively defeated by Nobunaga Oda, subduing the Mori clan.

Nobunaga Oda became the shogun of Japan after deposing the Ashikaga Shogunate, and he set about crushing all resistance to his rule. One of the most tough forms of resistance came in the form of the Saika renegades' peasant uprising, which was backed by the Mori clan of eastern Honshu. Nobunaga decided to confront both forces in a naval battle at Kizugawa, also known as Osaka Bay.

The Oda fleet had six very large and armored o ataka bune battleships, while the Mori navy had 600 small vessels. The armored Oda fleet, essentially a group of floating fortresses, was able to withstand any enemy cannon fire. The battle was joined in a series of boarding actions, and it was essentially fought as a land battle at sea. The Oda forces slaughtered the peasant rebels led by Magoichi Saika, and a disgusted Hideyoshi Toyotomi decided to protect the storehouses instead of fight on the front lines. Mitsuhide Akechi, who was ordered to attack the Mori flagships, was also disillusioned with Nobunaga due to his cruelty. Nobunaga himself saw to it that Mori reinforcement ships were destroyed by cannon fire, and he proceeded to cut down Terumoto Mori, weakening the Mori fleet. Soon, the entire Oda army advanced towards the Mori ships in the south, finally reaching the capital ship. Nobunaga succeeded in cutting down Motonari, slaying the great Mori daimyo and decisively defeating the Mori clan.